Not bad for a student.
Tue, Apr 10 2012, 8:05PM
For no particular reason other than the fact that I'd not listened to it for ages, earlier today I played the Jarvi recording of Rachmaninov's Aleko. It's certainly a slightly uneven work, but astonishing for a graduation piece. There is some really arresting music in it, both vocal and orchestral (of which there is a considerable amount considering it's a one-acter). I certainly couldn't immediately think of a similarly accomplished student work in the operatic field. Admittedly I didn't think very hard, but can anyone think of any?
Wed, Apr 11 2012, 9:57AM
#2
RE: Not bad for a student.
For no particular reason other than the fact that I'd not listened to it for ages, earlier today I played the Jarvi recording of Rachmaninov's Aleko. It's certainly a slightly uneven work, but astonishing for a graduation piece. There is some really arresting music in it, both vocal and orchestral (of which there is a considerable amount considering it's a one-acter). I certainly couldn't immediately think of a similarly accomplished student work in the operatic field. Admittedly I didn't think very hard, but can anyone think of any?
Not in the operatic field I admit - Shostakovich first symphony
Wed, Apr 11 2012, 6:19PM
#3
RE: Not bad for a student.
I'm having the same problem. Lots of examples in orchestral composition (add Simpson and Rawsthorne to those already mentioned) but I can't think of a single opera.
Thu, Apr 12 2012, 4:27AM
#4
RE: Not bad for a student.
None in the operatic field, but, yes Shosta's 1st Symphony, composed when he was only 19 yo is really impressive, so is Mendelssohn's Overture to Midsummer Night's Dream: 17 yo!
I wouldn't call Aleko a "slightly uneven" work, but I can share your general appreciation of the work, taking into serious consideration that it's a very early work of a predominantly piano composer.
Being far from my base, I can't go into any research for and I can't think of any other accomplished student work in the operatic field. However, I believe we may appreciate much more the very first works of quite a few operatic composers (Mozart, Weber, Wagner, Verdi, Puccini and the list could go on).